People in Traditional Authority (T/A) Wasambo in Karonga have expressed excitement with the impact of good nutrition practices they embraced.
Under Sustainable Malawian Agriculture to Enhance Resilience to Climate Change (Smart) Project, community members established orchards, received chickens, implemented water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives as well as learned how to prepare nutritious meals.
Speaking on Monday during a cooking demonstration in T/A Wasambo, the area’s development committee chairperson Happy Ndovie said the project has addressed malnutrition among children in the area and enhanced hygiene practices.
“We have witnessed how households have transformed. Every household has a refuse pit, a pit latrine, a kitchen, an orchard and domestic animals aimed at promoting consumption of six food groups,” he said.
Ndovie thanked Save the Children for implementing the project in the area.
“Charity begins at home but should not end there. Therefore, engage other community members on how best they can replicate the same,” he said.
A beneficiary Patrick Gondwe said the project has transformed his household.
“I got groundnuts seeds and 10 chickens. I grew the groundnuts and sold at a good profit. I am now raising the chickens which supplement my diet as well as give me money through sales,” he said.
On his part, Wasambo Area Nutrition Coordinating Committee chairperson Ofson Chikuyu said the initiative has reduced malnutrition levels.
“Five years ago, the area’s
malnutrition prevalence rate was at 37 percent. However, with this intervention, it has reduced to 16 percent,” he said.
Save the Children Karonga district programme officer Steven Kwakwala said cooking demonstrations promote best ways of preparing food.
“This platform provides a chance for households to learn how to prepare local food that provides nutrients to our bodies,” he said.
